Type-writer attachment.



E. B. @L cf. WILBUR. TYPE WRITER ATTACHMENT.

y APPLICATION FILED EEB. 2,1915-` 1,200,558. Patented 0@f..10,1916.

E. B. & C. B. WILBUR.

TYPE WRITER ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED EEB. 2| 1915.

Patented 00E. 10, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ff.i.

w M a .m w

- E. B. 6L C. B. WILBUR.

TYPE WRITER ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION HLED FEB.2.1915.

Patented OCE. 10, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET a Lanes. l

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE.

ELMEB B. WILBUR AND CHARLES B. WILBUR, OF SHENANDOAH, IOWA.

, TYPE-WRITER ATTACHMENT.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led February 2, 1915. Serial No. 5,788.

T o all whomiit may concern Be it known that we, ELMER B. WTLBUR andCHARLES B. VVILBUR, citizens ot the United States of America, residingat Shenandoah, in. the county of Page and State of Iowa, have inventedcertainnew and useful Improvements in Type-Writer production of a simpleand efiicient means for closing the electric circuit by lmeans of thetypewriting keys, whereby the type-bars may be eiiciently operated.

With these and other objects in view this invention consistsl of certainnovel combina# tions, constructions, and arrangements of parts as willbe hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings z-Figure 1 is a vertical section throughthe machine, the carriage and operating mechanism merely being indicatedfor the purpose of conveniently showing the operation of the device.Fig. 2 is a top plan view oi' the keyboard of the machine. Fig. 3 is asection' taken on line 3-3, of Fig. 2.. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectiontaken on line of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of several ofthe type-bar actuating apertures.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the electromagnet supporting mechanism.Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken on line 7-7, of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is adetail perspective of'the type-bar actuating mechanism. Fig. 9 1s adetail perspective of one of the keys and" contacts therefor. Fig. 10 isan enlarged section taken on line 10-10, of Fig. 3. Fig. 11 is a detailperspective of one of the key retaining brackets or yokes.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that 1 designates the bodyof the machine which supports the usual platen 2, which platenisactuated in the usual or any convenient manner to suit the convenienceof the manufacturer of the typewriting machine. A type-bar supportin'gshaft 3 is supported upon the frame of the machine, and upon this shaft3 are lpivotally supported the type-bars 4, which bars are of the usualconstruction and are provided with depending arms 5 for engaging theoperating links 6. These links 6 are connected to one of the apertures 7formed in the depending arm 5 of the type-bar 4 as clearly illustratedin detail in Fig. 8 by having its bifurcated end secured thereto bymeans of a pin 8. The rear end of each link 6 is connected to anarmature 9. A plurality of these armatures 9 are supported upon a shaft10 extending transversely of the machine, and each armature 9 isprovided with an armature plate 11, which plate is adapted to beattracted by means of the cores 12 of the electro-magnets 13 to behereinafter more fully described. A plurality of coil springs 14 aremounted upon the shaft 10 and have their free' ends engaging thearmatures 9 for normally holding the same out of engagement with theelectro-magnets 13 when said electro-magnets are denergized. The shaft10 is supported upon a plurality of lsupporting brackets 15 asillustrated in detail in Fig. 5.

which may be arranged in any suitable ordesired manner are supportedupon the spaced supporting rails 16 in a convenient manner to operatethe respective armatures 9 carried by the shaft 10. 0f course, it Shouldbe understood that each key and type-bar is operated by means of a,separate magnet, and each type-bar 2 is also actuated by means of aseparate' armature coperating with its respective magnet. These rails 16are secured to the base of the machine by means of the laterally bentears17.

A series of batteries 18 are supported upon the base of the machine 1and are connected to the respective magnets 13 by means of the wires 19as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. A wire 20 also leads from thebatteries 18 and is connected to the respective contacts 21 carried bythe bridges 22.

A supporting frame 23 of insulating material is carried by the front yofthe base 1 and 'is provided with a plurality of step portions 24 asclearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. These step portions 24are provided with a plurality of Contact mem- Patented Oct. 10, 1916. 'A

bers 25 which are connected to the respective magnets 13 by means of theconducting wires 26 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

A spring metal or resilient key 27 is connected to each of the Contactpoints 25 and carries an indicating knob 28 at the outer end thereof,which knob may have printed thereon the letter which is adapted to beprinted by means of. the type-bar coperating therewith. Of course, theletter may be removed from the knobs 28 if so desired when they machineis used for ,the touch system.

The bridge portions 22 of insulating material which support the contactmembers 21 are so arranged as to allow the spring keys 27 to readilyform a contact with the contact portions 21 supported thereby. Eachbridge portion 22 is provided with a plurality of spaced yokes 29 whichare securely mounted upon the bridge portions 22 and straddle thespringkeys 27 so as to limit the upward movement thereof, and also hold thekeys against material lateral swinging movement. These yokes 29 areprovided with a cushioning covering 30 so as to act as a resilientbuffer for the keys. The inner end of each key 29 is ixedly secured to acontact point 25 as previouslydescribed and clearly illustrated in Fig.1.

By carefully considering Figs. 7 and 10 the construction of the yokes 29will be clearly understood as well as the construe tion of the contactmembers 21. Each contactl member 21 is provided with an enlarged contacthead 31 having a depending shank to which is secured a thumb nut 32 forthe purpose of facilitating the connection of the conducting wires 2Othereto.

It should be understood as will be obvious from the above descriptionthat the circuit may be closed through the magnets for energizing thesame by theslightest pressure upon the spring keys 27, whereby theelectrical contact will be closed and thereby facilitate theenergization of the magnets 13. It should be understood that the magnetsare connected up to the batteries and to the special contact points insuch a manner as to cause the proper magnet to operate the properarmature 9 and in turn actuate thepro'per type-bar which is adapted tocooperate with the key which has been operated.

As stated above, it should be understood -that any suitable orconvenient carriage mechanism may be employed in connection with thepresent invention without departing from lthe spirit of the invention,for the principal `object of the invention resides in the operating ofthe type-bar by means of the mechanism illustrated and described.

Of course, it should be understood that the device may be modified inits detail mechanical construction without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

An electrically operated typewritin machine comprising a base, asupporting rame formed of insulating material carried by yokes carriedby said bridges and over-A hanging said keys for limiting the upwardmovement thereof and also holding said keys against material lateralswing, and a cushion covering passing around said yokes 1forconstituting a yieldable buffer for said reys. v

In testimony whereof we hereunto aifiX our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

ELMER B. WILBUR. CHARLES B. WILBUR.

Witnesses: l

FRED NORDSTROM, H. E. Ross.

